Vehicle body and bumper



April 19, 1932. w. G. MAYER 1,854,710

VEHICLE BODY AND BUMPER Original Filed Jan. 14, 192'? WITNESSES INVENTORPatented Apr. 19, 1932 WILLIAM G. MAYER, or PITTSB URGH PE NNSYLVANIAVEHICLE BODY AND BUMPER Original application filed January 14, 1927,Serial No.

This invention relates to vehicle body structures, and particularly totruck body frames built from structural sections. It is an object of theinvention to provide such struc- 5 tures with a rear bumper formed fromand integral with the structural members, which shall be strong,durable, readily formed, and eflicient both as a side and rear endbumper.

Trucks and similar vehicles have not usually been provided with rearbumpers, largely because of the difficulty and cost of equipping themwith rear bumpers which were strong, durable and effective for theirintended purpose. Such vehicles,

5 and size, are difiicult to control accurately.

They require frequent backing into loading or unloading positions andfor these and other reasons they I the result that the unprotected endsand tail gates are frequently damaged. This with possible injury to theload, entails in the aggregate considerable loss. Such bumpers as havebeen provided have not been entirely successful, because they compriseseparate members connected to the, body, and owing to the difficulty ofmaking them strong enough and bracing them properly, they soon 7 becomedamaged and ineffective. In accordance with the present invention theside members of a vehicle frame constructed from standard structuralshapes or sections are extended beyond the-end member at the rear end,and these projecting por-.

tions are folded back upon themselves, thus J providing a rearwardlyprojecting integral bumper which effectively overcomes many of the priordifficulties and disadvantages.

The accompanying embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a planView of a body constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 afragmentary plan view of one side member before forming the bumper; andFig. 3 a cross section of a side member taken on line III-J11,

" Fig. 2.

because of their weight are subject to severe shocks, with drawings 7represent an 161,172; Divided and this application filed July 13, 1928.Serial no. 292,471. r

f The invention is applicable to vehicle body frames comprisingstructural section side members, and although it may be practised in avariety of ways, it ispreferred to use the 7 construction disclosed andclaimed in my copending application, Serial No. 161,172, filed January14, 1927. In thatconstruction a frame is built up from structuralsection side and end members, and similar longitudinal and cross bracemembers are secured to the frame members, and also to one another by astandardized clamp intended for use with standard structural sections.This permits ready and simple assembly, disassembly, re-

construction, and the like, together with other advantages. i r

The illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawingsrepresents the application of the present invention to a subframeconstructed in accordance with; the

hereinbefore mentioned copending application. 1 The frame comprises sideframe mem bers 1, end frame members 2, 8, cross brace members 4, andlongitudinal brace members 5, all of which areformed from structuralsections, such as angles or the like. The end and side members may besecured to one" another in any suitable manner, asby bolts 6, and in theassembly end member 3 is'spaced inwardly from the ends portions 7, Fig.2, of-considerable length pro jecting therebeyond. Cross brace members 4of members 1 to leave and'longitudinal brace members 5 are secured attheirends to the appropriate frame members, and at their points ofintersection-they are connectedby clamps 8, of the typejdis closed in mycopending application. The frame thus formed is strong, as'light' as'isconsistent with the requisite strength, quickly assembled, and may bereconstructed easily. In order toformthe bumper, the projecting ends 7of side frame members 1 are folded back upon themselves, preferablyinwardly ofthe frame,;an'd in the preferred construction, the ends ofthe folded portions abut against rear cross member 3, as shown inFig. 1. Where structural sections are used, the flanges would buckleupon folding. This is prevented by cutting V-shaped notches 9 in theflange portion of ends 7 so that when the ends are folded the flangedportions will form a substantially continuous, fiat surface. If desired,the seams formed by the notched sides after folding may be filled in andunited by autogenous welding.

The bumper thus provided according to the invention has a relativelybroad, rounded end. It is as strong as the body frame itself and cannotbe torn off or dislodged. It is also fully effective -to prevent damageto the tail gate, or to the load carried, and it is effective bothagainst side shock and rear shock, and being abutted against the rearend frame it is reinforced. The bumper is very inexpensive, since itrequires only the added length of structural section, forms a part ofthe frame itself and eliminates many disadvantages of attached bumpers.Since the side members 1 are rigidly connected to the cross members 2,3, 4, shocks on the members are distributed through the whole frame,thus preventing undue strain on any one place or part.

. According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explainedthe principle and mode of operation of my invention, and haveillustrated and described what I now consider to represent its bestembodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within thescope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as specifically illustrated and described. I

I claim: v

.1. A vehicle body sub-frame construction comprising structural sectiontransverse end members, structural section longitudinal side framemembers connected to said end members and projecting therebeyond at therear end, structural section longitudinal brace members extendingbetween and connected to said end members, and structural section crossbrace members extending between said slde members and connected theretoand'to said longitudinal brace members at points of intersection, theprojecting ends of said side members being folded back upon themselvesto abut the adjacent end member to provide bumpers, whereby to provide arigid, substantially unitary sub-frame having an integrally formedbumper and in which bumper shock is relieved through all of its members.

2. vehicle body sub-frame construction comprising structural sectiontransverse end members, structural section longitudinal side framemembers connected to said end members and projecting therebeyond at therear end, structural section longitudinal brace members extendingbetween and connected to said end members, structural section crossbrace members extending between said side members and connected thereto,and clamps connecting said brace members at points of intersection, theprojecting ends of said side members being notched and folded inwardlyto abut the adjacent end member to provide bumpers, whereby to provide arigid, substantially unitary sub-frame having an integrally formedbumper and in which bumper shock is relieved through all of its members.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

WILLIAM G. MAYER.

